A Young Woman's Heart

Chapter Ninety: Sticky Ice Cream

Tuesday afternoon ended with two consecutive physics classes.

Mo Xueyao was chewing on her pen cap, pondering what Teacher Ye Yu had just taught. Then she opened her workbook and tried to do a few questions to see if she had actually learned the concept.

Wang Jiale, standing to the side, frowned and painfully wrote various equations and rudimentary solutions on a draft paper.

She couldn't even solve the physics teacher's classroom exercises on the blackboard; she seemed to be struggling to keep up with the thought process.

She could barely understand it after Teacher Ye Yu explained it to her in detail.

"It gets harder and harder in high school..." Wang Jiale grumbled. "It's so painful, I don't want to study physics anymore... Can't we just study all humanities subjects?"

"Then you'll have to wait until the class division in the second year of high school to talk about it." Mo Xiao smiled and covered her mouth. "But, it seems like the people in our class aren't very good at science subjects."

Upon hearing this, Mo Xueyao looked up and glanced at the other classmates, noticing that most of them had their brows furrowed.

In fact, even for her, learning it wasn't easy.

Apart from class monitor Li Wanyan, only vice class monitor Mr. Xue seemed particularly relaxed.

He was always the first to answer every question the teacher asked.

They're both people who enjoy reading science fiction, so why is there such a big difference between them?

Mo Xueyao scratched her head, thinking to herself.

"I'm so envious of Xiaoyao. She learns physics so quickly, it doesn't seem difficult at all."

"Huh? Really?" Mo Xueyao was taken aback.

"Yes, look at you, the teacher hasn't even finished explaining this problem yet, and you've already written several more in your workbook."

"I was just trying to see if I could learn it..." Mo Xueyao smiled awkwardly.

While she was envying others, she seemed to be the object of others' envy as well.

Humans are always comparing themselves with others.

This is probably why human desires are never-ending.

Two consecutive physics classes had put Mo Xueyao's brain under immense strain, to the point that she felt a little hot.

When I stepped out of the classroom and felt the cool breeze on my face, I immediately felt much refreshed.

"Wow—" She stretched lazily, gazing at the setting sun, and sighed, "The day is over just like that, so fast~"

“A stable life always makes time seem to fly by,” Li Wanyan replied as she locked the door.

The classroom was already empty, and as the person in charge of managing the classroom keys, she was only allowed to leave at this point.

"Peaceful days are so good~" Mo Xueyao murmured softly, holding the back of her head with both hands and looking up at the bright sun in the sky.

"The world is not all peaceful. We can only say that we are fortunate to be born in a peaceful country."

"Hmm...and thankfully it's this era, not an earlier one, otherwise we wouldn't be so happy."

"I guess so. After all, this is an era where everything is thriving and prosperous. Perhaps it is the best of times."

"It can't be considered the best, can it?" Mo Xueyao said, turning and walking towards the stairwell after seeing Li Wanyan lock the door. "Maybe there will be an even better era in the future?"

What kind of era does Haruka want?

"Hmm... I hope meat prices will be cheaper, so I can eat meat every day!"

"..." Li Wanyan chuckled, speechless. "Is that all?"

"Yes, I think it's already very good as it is. I wonder if that kind of era will ever come?"

"It will definitely come." Li Wanyan nodded gently.

"Wanyan, wait for me downstairs, I'm going to get the car from the garage."

"it is good."

Because it was past the end of the school day, there weren't many students leaving the school; there were only a few scattered individuals.

However, there were still quite a few students at the school gate.

Many students don't want to go home immediately after school. Instead, they linger at the school gate for a while, buy some snacks, or go out to play with their friends.

The snack shops near the school gate are busiest during school dismissal time.

Compared to the rush in the morning, there is more time to eat something delicious after school.

Even if the production speed is not fast enough, there is no rush.

Sometimes, there are also some stalls.

For example, today there was an old man riding a tricycle selling a simple ice cream at his stall.

Moreover, ice cream vendors usually only appear when the weather gets cold.

Even the usually frugal Mo Xueyao couldn't help but stop in front of the tricycle: "Squad leader, would you like one?"

"Need not."

"Have one, I still have some change left." Mo Xueyao put her hands in her pockets, making the coins clink. "How much, boss?"

"One yuan each." The shopkeeper held up one index finger. "We have honeydew melon, strawberry, blueberry, and chocolate flavors."

"I want chocolate flavor, where's the class monitor?"

"I don't need it..."

"Let's eat together. It'll be awkward if I eat alone."

“Then…” Li Wanyan’s gaze swept over the ice creams in the other people’s hands, “then let’s go for strawberry flavor.”

"it is good."

This is a homemade ice cream made from ingredients like bananas, peanuts, milk, and eggs. It can only be bought from these roadside mobile stalls.

Even large shopping malls don't sell it.

Because the raw materials are simple and fresh, and no seasonings are used, the taste is very natural.

Moreover, the flavor is very delicate, and students usually refer to it as fruit ice cream.

Chocolate-flavored ice cream is made by grinding chocolate into small pieces using a manual grinder, and then sprinkling it on top of the ice cream.

The same applies to other flavors.

It doesn't use artificial flavorings, but real fruit.

"Chocolate flavor." The shopkeeper was very skilled; he made an ice cream in no time and handed it to Mo Xueyao. Then he turned on the tap-like switch on the round tub, twisted it a few times with practiced ease, and made another one. He then drizzled strawberry juice on it, and it was done.

This ice cream has a unique texture, like it has glutinous rice added, and it's a bit sticky and chewy.

Li Wanyan carefully held the ice cream, took a small bite, and couldn't help but squint her eyes.

"How is it? Is it delicious?" Mo Xueyao asked, licking the chocolate crumbs.

"It's delicious." Li Wanyan's voice trembled slightly. "It's just... a little cold."

"Of course it tastes better cold!" Mo Xueyao answered matter-of-factly, holding an ice cream in one hand and pushing the cart with the other. "Haven't you ever had one before, class monitor?"

"Hmm... I've never had it before."

"Next time I can try the chocolate flavor, it's even better. Its chocolate has a slightly bitter taste, so it's not greasy at all."

"Okay, thank you." Li Wanyan turned to look at Mo Xueyao.

"What are you thanking me for? Why do you keep saying thank you?" Mo Xueyao rolled her eyes. "We're friends now, aren't we?"

"Um……"

"There's no need to say thank you between friends, that's too formal."

"Hmm." Li Wanyan smiled gently and pointed to Mo Xueyao's mouth. "Xiaoyao, you've got food all over your mouth."

"Where?" Mo Xueyao quickly stuck out her tongue and licked the corner of her mouth.

"Not this side, the other side."

"so?"

"Hmm...cough." Li Wanyan said, suppressing a laugh, "The more you lick it, the darker it gets, it's all the color of chocolate."

"Oh, it's alright, it's alright, I'll just wipe it with a tissue later."

"Girls should pay attention to their image."

"...Whatever," Mo Xueyao muttered, drawing out her words. "Being a girl is so troublesome."

"Aren't boys troublesome too?"

"Of course, you don't need to worry too much about that image. Being casual will make people feel carefree..."

"You talk as if you've ever been a boy."

"Of course...!" Mo Xueyao's eyes widened, and she quickly added with an embarrassed smile, "Of course I haven't done it, but you can probably guess, just look at the boys in our class, right?"

"But boys who are well-groomed will attract girls."

“I actually think being unkempt is more handsome, like the principal.” Mo Xueyao touched her chin, somewhat missing the beard that had never grown.

She used to fantasize about what it would feel like to touch her own beard every day after she grew one.

After all, when she was little, she often liked to touch her father's hard, coarse stubble.

Her father often rubbed his chin against her face, which always made her face itchy.

That was before I was in the third grade of elementary school, right?

After the third grade, I don't think I ever touched my father's beard again.

"It seems that Xiaoyao likes older men."

"...I just like it in a liking way, okay?"

"Same here, maybe I'll find a man older than myself as my boyfriend in the future."

Mo Xueyao lowered her eyelids and did not answer. Finding a boyfriend was something she dared not even think about right now.